Palace of Heavenly Purity
Era unverified
- Ming dynasty imperial bedroom, later used for receiving foreign envoys.
I am the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the foremost of the three rear palaces in the Forbidden City. First built in 1420 during the Ming dynasty, I once housed fourteen Ming emperors and witnessed Emperor Kangxi reviewing memorials and handling state affairs here. My name derives from the Tao Te Ching’s phrase ‘Heaven attains clarity through unity,’ symbolizing cosmic order. Above the throne hangs the ‘Upright and Bright’ plaque, behind which Emperor Yongzheng hid the secret succession box, initiating the Qing dynasty’s heir-designation system. I have endured multiple fires and reconstructions, with my current form dating from 1798. From the joyous Thousand Elders Banquet to the solemn encoffining of emperors, I embody the rise and fall of two dynasties. Now, I stand still, awaiting your story.
Sources
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Image: Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)